Texas Stars
January has been very kind to the Texas Stars as they ran their winning streak to a season high six games. It’s even more impressive when you consider that the Stars had their roster gutted for their final game of the week as good chunk of the roster went up to Dallas for training camp and they were playing three games in three days.
Goaltending was the story of the week for Texas as Cristopher Nilstorp stopped 37 of 39 shots in the two games he played and Jack Campbell had a great shutout of the OKC Barons in which he stopped 36 shots.
It was Campbell’s first shutout of the year and he should see a lot more time as Nilstorp is in training camp and could stay in Dallas for a while.
On the offensive side of the ice, Matt Fraser was the hero of the week as he had three goals and an assist to carry the Stars. Jordie Benn had two goals and an assist (in two games) and Colton Sceviour had a goal and two assists as well during the week.
The Stars will be without Nilstorp, Benn, Brenden Dillon, Reilly Smith, Cody Eakin and Antoine Roussel this week as they participate in the Dallas Stars training camp. They’ll be in the midst of a six-game road trip this week.
Jan. 16 – Texas Stars @ Chicago Wolves
Jan. 18 – Texas Stars @ Chicago Wolves (again)
Jan. 19 – Texas Stars @ Peoria Rivermen
CHL Prospects
Radek Faksa – Kitchener Rangers
Faksa just finished playing in the WJC and is set to make his way over to the Stars training camp so he didn’t get much action last week. He played in one game with the Rangers and went pointless.
That one game was the only one that Faksa has played with the Rangers since the WJC started in mid-December.
Season totals: 30 games, 7 goals, 18 assists, 22 PIM, +1 rating
Jan. 18 – Brampton Battalion @ Kitchener Rangers
Jan. 19 – Kitchener Rangers @ Barrie Colts
Jan. 20 – Kitchener Rangers @ Sudbury Wolves
Brett Ritchie – Niagara IceDogs
Ritchie made his first appearance this season with the IceDogs in a month (and sans Ryan Strome) and had a goal in his only game with the team last week. Like Faksa, he’s recovering from the WJC and will be at the Stars training camp.
Season totals: 33 games, 28 goals, 23 assists, 25 PIM, +28 rating
Jan. 18 – Belleville Bulls @ Niagara IceDogs
Jan. 19 – Peterborough Petes @ Niagara IceDogs
Gemel Smith – Owen Sound Attack
Smith is just slowly chugging along as he had another goal and an assist in three games last week. His goal at the beginning of the week gave him a three game goal streak but that was promptly snapped in the Attack’s next game against the IceDogs.
Smith has slowed down considerably from his early season start (only two goals and four assists in December) so it’s good to see him get some points in early January (already three goals and two assists).
Season totals: 42 games, 18 goals, 23 assists, 36 PIM, +15 rating
Jan. 18 – Owen Sound Attack @ Kingston Frontenacs
Jan. 19 – Owen Sound Attack @ Belleville Bulls
Jan. 20 – Owen Sound Attack @ Ottawa 67’s
Matej Stransky – Saskatoon Blades
Stransky had a quiet week as he went pointless in the Blades two games (both losses). He’s now been held pointless in three straight and four of the last five games.
He’s really slowed down from his incredible December run and has only scored one goal in his last eight games.
Season totals: 42 games, 22 goals, 26 assists, 47 PIM, +6 rating
Jan. 15 – Kootenay Ice @ Saskatoon Blades
Jan. 18 – Moose Jaw Warriors @ Saskatoon Blades
Jan. 19 – Brandon Wheat Kings @ Saskatoon Blades
Mike Winther – Prince Albert Raiders
Winther had a goal and two assists in three games last week as he tries to build on a good start to the month. The goal was his first in seven games and only his fourth in the last month and a half.
He’s still managing a steady stream of assists though (four assists in six January games) and his team sits second in the Eastern Conference. The Raiders play the first of a six-game road trip at the end of the week.
Season totals: 40 games, 15 goals, 23 assists, 47 PIM, +20 rating
Jan. 16 – Kootenay Ice @ Prince Albert Raiders
Jan. 18 – Prince Albert Raiders @ Brandon Wheat Kings
Branden Troock – Seattle Thunderbirds
The recently resuscitated Troock had his best week of the season as he had two goals and an assist in four games (though the Thunderbirds lost all four).
Troock probably isn’t quite in full game shape just yet so it’s nice to just see him out on the ice after his injury troubles. The points have been a great bonus so far and he should hit full stride by the start of February.
Season totals: 16 games, 4 goals, 6 assists, 15 PIM, -5 rating
Jan. 18 – Seattle Thunderbirds @ Everett Silvertips
Jan. 19 – Portland Winterhawks @ Seattle Thunderbirds
Jan. 20 – Lethbridge Hurricanes @ Seattle Thundebirds
Troy Vance – Prince Edward Island Rocket
Vance had a busy week as he saw himself traded from the Victoriaville Tigers to the PEI Rocket and was promptly thrust into a starting role.
His start with the Rocket though leaves a lot to be desired as he went pointless in three games and finished with a -3 rating.
It’s going to take a little bit of time for Vance to get adjusted to his new surroundings and his new partner on defense (mostly Jimmy Oligny). His numbers could be pretty barren for the next week or so.
The Rocket are on a six-game road trip so Vance won’t see home ice for a while.
Season totals: 39 games, 3 goals, 15 assists, 41 PIM, -6 rating (With Victoriaville)
3 games, 0 goals, 0 assists, 2 PIM, -3 rating (With PEI)
Jan. 16 – PEI Rocket @ Acadie-Bathurst Titan
Jan. 18 – PEI Rocket @ Baie-Comeau Drakkar
Jan. 19 – PEI Rocket @ Chicoutimi Sagueneens
Maxime Lagace – Prince Edward Island Rocket
Lagace got one start last week and allowed four goals in a 4-3 loss to the league-best Halifax Mooseheads. He stopped 34 of 38 shots in what might actually be his best game of the past month.
Lagace has now lost his last three games and has allowed 13 goals on 86 shots (.849 SV%) as he’s slowly returned to his poor early season form.
Season totals: 23 games, 9-9-1-0, 81 goals allowed, 4.13 GAA, .867 SV%, 1 shutout
